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Gordie Tapp Hee Haw Overalls

On exhibit

Artifact TypeOveralls

Manufacturer Liberty

Canadian country music entertainer Gordie Tapp was a fixture on the long-running American variety show Hee Haw, which aired on CBS from 1968-1993. Many of the show's important contributors were Canadian, such as Tapp, who wrote and starred in several episodes and played a variety of characters. His best known character, Cousin Clem, was developed while working on the Canadian show Country Hoedown, a precursor to The Tommy Hunter Show. Custom made by the popular '70s clothing brand Liberty, these overalls became emblematic of that character.

Cultural SignificanceAlthough there are a number of musical styles that can be said to correspond with a particular fashion aesthetic, perhaps none is more iconic than that of the Country and Western genres. This particular pair of overalls became an iconic symbol of the American Hee Haw variety television series. Hee Haw aired on CBS between 1969 and 1993, followed by a period of syndication, and featured country music performances as well as a series of comedy skit routines. Despite being established in the United States, many of the show’s most important contributors were Canadian, including Tapp and the series’ creators Frank Peppiatt and John Avlesworth.Users/PerformersGordie Tapp was born on 4 June 1922 in London, Ontario, and is widely recognized for his contributions to the television series Country Hoedown (CBC) and Hee Haw (CBS). Tapp’s main Hee Haw character, Cousin Clem, was developed while working on Country Hoedown throughout the mid 1950s. Country Hoedown emerged as an extension of CHML radio in Hamilton, Ontario, where Tapp hosted a program called Main Street Jamboree, focusing on country and western music in Canada. Tapp was a graduate of the Lorne Green School of Broadcasting and spent a total of thirteen years with CBC radio and TV, the majority of that hosting Country Hoedown, which was later replaced by The Tommy Hunter Show. The opportunity to host CBS’s Hee Haw came after Tapp relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, with the show running from 1969 until 1993. Tapp was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990 and received the Order of Canada in 1998 and the Order of Ontario in 1999. In addition to his broadcasting contributions, Tapp was also an avid philanthropist, working for various medical charities including the Canadian Muscular Dystrophy campaign, the U.S. Shriner’s hospital, and the Tim Horton Foundation for Children.

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